2010 Visitor Survey
Visitor Origin Map
The highest proportion of our visitors traveled from Orangeville (65%), followed by Alton (10%), Caledon (9%) and Erin (4%). All other locations accounted for 11% and included areas such as Belfountain, Mississauga and Brampton. Our analysis shows that 74% of visitors originated within 10 kilometres of UCCA, 85% originated within 25 kilometres and 91% originated within 50 kilometres.
Figure 1 – Upper Credit Conservation Area Seasonal Visitor Origin by Postal Code
Main Reason for Visiting Upper Credit Conservation Area
This question provided a great way for you to tell us why you came to UCCA. Most visitors came to UCCA for a specific activity such as dog walking (55%) and hiking (25%) or for more general reasons such as nature appreciation (5%) and to escape the city and get fresh air (4%). UCCA is largely made up of repeat visitors who travel to the property as frequently as one to two times a day. Through a natural process, UCCA users have developed a small community where dog walkers and hikers convene and walk the trails together.
Figure 2 – Main Reason for Visiting
Primary Activity
The majority of visitors stated dog walking or hiking as their primary activity at UCCA while only 3% said they participated in other activities such as photography and wildlife viewing.
Figure 3 – Primary Activity
How did you learn about Upper Credit Conservation Area?
The majority of visitors learned of UCCA in one of two ways; they noticed it in passing (32%) or by word of mouth (32%). Noticed in passing includes spotting the trails, parking lot or other visitors while passing by or hearing about UCCA through recommendations from family, friends and local businesses. 15% learned about UCCA through other methods including newspapers, UCCA’s Grand Opening and the CVC website. A few visitors even noted seeing UCCA in passing while traveling on the Credit Valley Explorer train tour.
Figure 4 – Learned about Upper Credit Conservation Area
Will you return to Upper Credit Conservation Area?
Almost all respondents said they would return to UCCA. There was no clear indication in the comments or throughout the survey process that stated why exactly the 3% would not return to UCCA except for one outlier who felt there was not enough to do (lack of services and facilities) and preferred to visit larger conservation areas.
Figure 5 – Return Visit
Visitor Information Surveys
Visitor Information Surveys are conducted by staff at Credit Valley Conservation in order to gather useful information about our visitors and their experiences at our Conservation Areas.
By conducting Visitor Information Surveys we are striving to achieve the following benefits:
- Identify important indicators that guide future property planning and management;
- Establish visitor profiles based on demographics, visitor attributes, and site attributes;
- Engage with conservation area visitors for their feedback on our facilities and services;
- Utilize the results to provide recommendations towards Conservation Area Management Plans and Conservation Area Programming.
Visitor Information Surveys were most recently completed in 2010 at Belfountain Conservation Area and Upper Credit Conservation Area. CVC would like to sincerely thank all conservation area visitors that participated in our survey, your time and feedback is greatly appreciated. Over the 2011 operating season, CVC staff will be conducting Visitor Information Surveys at Ken Whillans Resource Management Area.
For further information please contact:
Victoria Maines,
Conservation Lands Planner
Phone: 905-670-1615 x 223
Email: vmaines@creditvalleyca.ca
